ITWire

For more information on melanoma, please go to the website http://www.melanoma.com/.

The website states, “Anyone who is exposed to lots of sunlight or ultraviolet (UV) radiation is at risk for melanoma. However, some people have a higher risk of getting melanoma than others. Even dark-skinned people and those who tan without burning can get melanoma.”

Melanoma.com has a ten-question survey to see if you are at higher risk of getting melanoma than other people. Go to “Am I At Risk?” for the survey

The research by the IARC found that all ultraviolet rays (UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C) cause cancer in animals.

The WebMD article states that the indoor tanning industry “often claimed that tanning beds are safe because the bulbs have more UVA radiation than UVB.” This scientific research refutes such statements, reporting that UV-A rays are just as deadly as UV-B rays.

Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, the deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, stated, “This report puts to rest the argument that tanning with UVA light is safe. As noted by the IARC report, UVA light is also a class I carcinogen and should be avoided.”

Consequently, indoor tanning is dangerous to the human body and greatly increases the chance of cancer, specifically melanoma.

The study made by the WHO’s IARC is found in the journal The Lancet.

For additional information on the WHO study, please read the July 28, 2009  U.S. News and World Report article “Tanning Beds Get Highest Carcinogen Rating: Melanoma risk rises 75 percent when device use begins before age 30, international panel says.”

Just as the use of cigarettes have been scientifically proven to be dangerous and cancer-causing (carcinogenic) based on scientific studies over the past fifty years, indoor tanning beds are also being shown to be dangerous to the health of humans.